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Free Tibet launches appeal for language campaigner

Who is Tashi Wangchuk?

Tashi Wangchuk conducted a peaceful and non-political campaign to protect Tibetan language education in Tibet. Late last year, he was interviewed in the New York Times, talking frankly and openly about his campaign and the threat to Tibet’s culture. For that courageous decision, he has now been arrested and, if convicted, faces fifteen years in jail. Tibetans charged with political crimes are rarely found innocent in China’s courts. Many are convicted after confessions are extracted through torture.

In January 2016 Tashi Wangchuk was arrested and has been charged with “inciting separatism”. He faces up to 15 years in prison.

Tashi Wangchuk, 30, is from Yushu in eastern Tibet. He was arrested after asking China’s authorities to ensure that the Tibetan language is taught throughout Tibet. China’s own constitution guarantees that Tibetans have the right to use and develop their own languages. Tashi Wangchuk pursued his peaceful campaign through official channels and repeatedly maintained that his actions were not political. It is likely he is being punished because he had the courage to work with the New York Times to highlight threats to Tibetan culture, despite the risk he would be arrested.

China has sharply scaled back the teaching of Tibetan in recent years, despite guarantees of cultural autonomy in the Tibetan regions.

Take action

Citizens of the UK, US, Australia, Canada, India, France, Ireland and Germany can follow the links below to contact your foreign ministers to demand action for Tashi Wangchuk. If your country is not listed, please see our guide for the relevant contact for your country, and how to reach them, here. If you are based in a country which you are not a citizen of, please contact campaigns@freetibet.org for help.